Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP BALD 09’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, light purple-pink ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the third week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP BALD 09’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ is a product of a cross between the male parent ‘GEDI ONE JAM’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,891) and the female parent ‘PPP TUSC05’ (which is subject to Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/414,885). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in October of 2000 in a greenhouse in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ by terminal cuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PPP BALD 09.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PPP BALD 09’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, light purple-pink, decorative-type inflorescences;     -   2. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the third         week of September;     -   3. Free branching habit; and     -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming         consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ are similar to plants of the male parent variety, ‘GEDI ONE JAM’ in most horticultural characteristics; however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ are smaller in both height and plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ has darker green foliage. Additionally, the inflorescences of ‘PPP BALD 09’ are smaller than the inflorescences of the male parent. Finally, the ray florets of ‘PPP BALD 09’ are more pale purple in color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ re similar to plants of the female parent variety, ‘PPP TUSC05’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BALD 09’ are smaller in both height and plant spread. Also, the female parent ‘PPP TUSC05’ has a longer inflorescence longevity. Additionally, the ray florets of ‘PPP BALD 09’ are a light pink-purple compared to the salmon colored floret of the female parent. Finally, ‘PPP BALD 09’ naturally blooms three weeks later than the female parent ‘PPP TUSC05.’

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘PPP MIL PK05’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,968), ‘PPP BALD 09’ is smaller in both height and plant spread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP BALD 09’ has a smaller inflorescence diameter and lighter purple-pink ray florets. Further, the comparable variety ‘PPP MIL PK05’ has more inflorescences per lateral branch. Finally, ‘PPP BALD 09’ blooms one week later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in the drawing illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘PPP BALD 09’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘PPP BALD 09’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar ‘PPP     BALD 09.’ -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 16 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 31 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 12 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 26. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 139 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 5.4 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 4.7 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.             Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage             under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Green 138B. Venation color under side: Near Green 138B. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 138B.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length             required to induce and develop blooms.         -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.         -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the third week in             September.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             10.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 5 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 25 to 30             days.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—171.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.25 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Red-Purple 70A.             Upper surface at maturity: Near Red-Purple 75D. Upper             surface at fading: Near White 155D. Under surface at first             opening: Near Red-Purple 70A. Under surface at maturity:             Near Red-Purple 75D. Under surface at fading: Near White             155D. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 13.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow-Green 154C. At             maturity: Near Yellow 9A. At fading: Near Yellow 9A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest). Approximately 3 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 6.4 cm.         -   Angle to stem.—Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 138A.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Form.—Globose.         -   Color.—Near Red-Purple 70A. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 30.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1C.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Stamens.—Absent. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1D.         -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.         -   Anther shape.—Tubular.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Pollen color.—No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low     temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the     approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of     cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants     are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP BALD 09’ as herein illustrated and described. 